Peach tree named ‘Polar Princess’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peach tree,  Prunus persica , broadly characterized by a medium size, moderately vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, very productive and regular bearing tree. The variety blooms during the early to mid season and requires about 500 chilling hours. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in the later part of July, with first picking on Jul. 21, 2011. The fruit is uniform, very large in size, sub-acidic in flavor, globose in shape, freestone in type, firm and melting in texture, white in flesh color, mostly red in skin color, and good in flavor.

Botanical classification: Prunus persica.

Variety denomination: ‘POLAR PRINCESS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, I, theinventor, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum,apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. I also grow a lesser number ofopen pollinated seeds of each of these fruits, usually to capturerecessive traits. The present invention relates to a new and distinctvariety of peach tree, which has been denominated varietally as ‘PolarPrincess’.

The present variety was hybridized by me in 2000 as a first generationcross using an unnamed white flesh freestone nectarine designated bycode number ‘5P495’ (unpatented) as the selected seed parent and ‘SnowPrincess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,570) peach as the selected pollenparent. The fruit of this cross was gathered that summer, and the seedswere removed, cracked, stratified, germinated, and grown as seedlings ontheir own root in my greenhouse. Upon reaching dormancy the seedlingswere transplanted as a group to a cultivated area of my experimentalorchard located near Le Grand, Calif., in Merced County (San JoaquinValley). During the fruit evaluation season of 2005 I selected thepresent variety as a single tree from the group of seedlings describedabove. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of peach tree, Iasexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimentalorchard described above, and such reproduction of plant and fruitcharacteristics were true to the original plant in all respects. Thereproduction of the variety included the use of ‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented)rootstock upon which the present variety was compatible and true totype.

The present variety is similar to its seed parent ‘5P495’ nectarine(unpatented) by producing fruit that is white in flesh color, freestonein type, firm in texture, mostly red in skin color, but is quitedistinguished therefrom by being a peach instead of nectarine, and byproducing fruit that matures about fourteen days later.

The present variety is most similar to its pollen parent ‘Snow Princess’peach (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,570) by producing peaches that are whitein flesh color, mostly red in skin color, firm in texture, large insize, freestone in type, and sub-acidic in taste, but is distinguishedtherefrom by blooming about five days later and by producing fruit thatmatures about two weeks earlier. It is to be noted that the claimedripening time for ‘Snow Princess’ peach in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,570was Jul. 20, 2000. It has been determined during subsequent years thatthe ripening time for ‘Snow Princess’ peach is usually between August1st and August 5th, with the actually date of first pick recorded thisyear as Aug. 5, 2011.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

In summary, the present variety is characterized by a medium size,moderately vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, very productive and regularbearing tree. The variety blooms during the early to mid season andrequires about 500 chilling hours. The fruit matures under theecological conditions described in the later part of July, with firstpicking on Jul. 21, 2011. The fruit is uniform, very large in size,sub-acidic in flavor, globose in shape, freestone in type, firm andmelting in texture, white in flesh color, and mostly red in skin color.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph consists of four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, one dividedfruit to reveal the flesh and stone, two insets to reveal buds andblossoms, and typical leaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of peach tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at thestate of firm ripe on Jul. 28, 2011, on the original tree during itseleventh growing season. The blossom and flower descriptions were madethe previous blooming season. All major color code designations are byreference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau ofStandards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

PARENTAGE

-   Seed parent: ‘5P495’ (unpatented) nectarine.-   Pollen parent: ‘Snow Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,570) peach.

TREE

-   Size: Medium, reaching and maintaining a height of 8′ [2.44 m.] and    a spread of 7′ [2.13 m.] after eleven growing seasons utilizing    typical dormant pruning.-   Vigor: Medium vigor, responding typically to irrigation and    fertilization. The variety grows about 3′ [0.91 m.] of surplus    top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant should be grown    on a standard commercial rootstock for production purposes.-   Growth: Upright and dense.-   Form: Vase type.-   Hardiness: Hardy with respect to central California winters.-   Heat tolerance: Observed to perform adequately in typical central    California climatic conditions, which typically include extended    periods of heat.-   Drought tolerance: Variety is developed for commercial orchards and    requires regular irrigation.-   Production: Very productive, thinning necessary.-   Fertility: Self-fertile.-   Bearing: Regular bearer with no alternate bearing yet observed.-   Approximate chilling requirement: 500 hours.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 4½″ [114.3 mm.]            after the eleventh growing season.        -   Texture.—Medium shaggy.        -   Bark color.—A Brownish gray [64. brGy] and Dark brown [59.            d.Br] variegation with Moderate orange yellow [71. m.OY]            crevices present.        -   Lenticels.—Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 12. Color:            Moderate orange yellow [71. m.OY]. Size: ⅛″ [3.2 mm.] to ⅜″            [9.5 mm.]. Shape: Eye-shaped, elongated.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Diameter of main scaffold is 3¼″ [82.6 mm.] measured            12″ above the crotch, diameter of limb is 2″ [50.8 mm.]            measured 12″ above the first fork.        -   Texture.—Smooth on first and second year wood, increasing            roughness with age.        -   Color.—1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st            Year Wood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].            Older Wood: Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr].        -   Lenticels.—Number Per Square Inch: About 80 on second year            wood. Color: Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr]. Size: 1/64″            [0.4 mm.] to 1/16″ [1.6 mm.] on second year wood. Shape:            Eye-shaped, elongated.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Large. Average Length: 6″ [152.4 mm.]. Average Width:            1⅝″ [41.3 mm.].        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Form.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Acute, with an average base angle of 75 degrees.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG].            Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].        -   Margin.—Finely serrate.        -   Venation.—Pinnately net veined.        -   Vein color.—Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].        -   Petiole.—Average Length: ⅜″ [9.5 mm.]. Average Thickness:            1/16″ [1.6 mm.]. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116.            brill.YG].        -   Stipules.—Number: Usually 2 per leaf, up to 6 per growing            tip. Average Length: 5/16″ [7.9 mm.]. Color: Light yellow            green [119. l.YG] becoming Moderate reddish brown [43.            m.rBr] with maturity.        -   Glands.—Number: 2 to 4 per leaf. Position: Both opposite and            alternately positioned on petiole and base of blade. Size:            Small. Form: Reniform. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116.            brill.YG] becoming Dark brown [59. d.Br] with age.        -   Leaf buds.—Pointed, medium in size.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Hardiness.—Hardy, with respect to central California            winters.        -   Diameter.—Typically ⅜″ [9.5 mm.] 1 week before bloom.        -   Length.—Typically 11/16″ [17.5 mm.] 1 week before bloom.        -   Form.—Not appressed.        -   Surface.—Pubescent.        -   Tip color.—Light purplish pink [249. l.pPk].-   Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil,    typically thirty or more stamens, five sepal and petal locations    alternately positioned.    -   -   Type.—Showy, large.        -   Average flower diameter.—2⅛″ [54.0 mm.].        -   Number of petals.—Five, extra petal fragments are            occasionally observed.        -   Petal shape.—Circular to oval.        -   Petal margin.—Entire, wavy.        -   Average petal diameter.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].        -   Average petal length.—⅞″ [22.2 mm.].        -   Petal apex.—Rounded.        -   Petal base.—Rounded to somewhat truncate.        -   Petal color.—Pale pink [7. p.Pk] toward the apex, Light            purplish pink [249. l.pPk] toward the base on both sides.        -   Anther color.—Moderate red [15. m.R] over a Light yellow            [86. l.Y] center at bloom onset.        -   Stigma color.—Light greenish yellow [101. l.gY].        -   Sepal color.—Dark purplish red [259. d.pR] on the outer            surface.        -   Sepal length.—¼″ [6.4 mm.].        -   Sepal width.— 7/32″ [5.6 mm.].        -   Sepal apex.—Rounded to elliptical to match the sepal length            and width.        -   Sepal margin.—Fairly smooth.        -   Average pistil length.— 11/32″ [17.5 mm.].        -   Average stamen length.— 9/16″ [14.3 mm.].        -   Fragrance.—Moderate.        -   Blooming period.—Early to medium, five days after ‘Snow            Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,570) peach.        -   Onset of bloom.—One percent on Feb. 20, 2011.        -   Date of full bloom.—Mar. 1, 2011.        -   Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient            temperature.        -   Number per cluster.—1 to 3 with single flowers most common.

FRUIT

-   Maturity when described: Firm ripe, Jul. 28, 2011.-   Date of first picking: Jul. 21, 2011.-   Date of last picking: Aug. 4, 2011.-   Size: Uniform, very large.    -   -   Average diameter axially.—3½″ [88.9 mm.].        -   Average diameter across suture plane.—3½″ [88.9 mm.].        -   Average diameter across cheek plane.—3⅜″ [85.7 mm.].        -   Typical weight.—13.4 ounces [380 grams].-   Form: Uniform, globose, symmetrical with respect to the suture    plane.    -   -   Longitudinal section form.—Circular to elliptical.        -   Axial view.—Circular with a suture bulge.-   Suture: Extends from the base, along the side, to slightly beyond    the pistil point.    -   -   Near the base.—A shallow, sharp groove.        -   Along the side.—A shallow trough.        -   Near the apex.—A shallow groove.-   Ventral surface: Humped along the suture, lightly lipped toward the    apex.-   Lips: Slightly unequal.-   Cavity: Flaring, elongated in the suture plane, suture showing on    both sides, Pale greenish yellow [104. p.gY] stem markings typical.    -   -   Depth.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].        -   Breadth.—1½″ [38.1 mm.].-   Base: Truncate.-   Apex: Rounded to slightly truncate.-   Pistil point: Apical, very short in length, usually depressed within    the suture.-   Stem: Medium.    -   -   Average length.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].        -   Average width.— 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].-   Skin:    -   -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.        -   Astringency.—Non-astringent.        -   Tendency to crack.—Very slight.        -   Color.—Deep red [13. deep R] smoothly blending into Deep            pink [3. deep Pk] with an occasional Yellowish white [92.            yWhite] area where sun protected.        -   Down.—Moderate, does not roll up when rubbed.-   Flesh:    -   -   Color.—Pinkish white [9. pkWhite] acquiring some Moderate            red [15. m.R] streaking toward stone and Moderate red [15.            m.R] freckling toward the skin with maturity.        -   Surface of pit cavity.—Covered with Deep red [13. deep R]            fibers.        -   Amygdalin.—Scarce.        -   Juice.—Moderate, rich.        -   Texture.—Firm, tough, melting.        -   Fibers.—Abundant, fine, tender.        -   Ripens.—Fairly even, slightly earlier toward the apex.        -   Flavor.—Sub-acid, typically 15 brix.        -   Aroma.—Slight.        -   Eating quality.—Good.

STONE

-   Type: Freestone.-   Form: Oval.-   Hilum: Narrow, oblong.-   Base: Rounded.-   Apex: Obtuse with a ⅛″ [3.2 mm.] sharp tip, average angle of 60    degrees.-   Sides: Equal.-   Surface: Irregularly furrowed toward the apex, pitted toward the    base.-   Ridges: Jagged toward the apex.-   External color: Dark brown [59. d.Br] when first removed.-   Pit wall color when cracked: Moderate brown [58. m.Br].-   Cavity surface color: Strong brown [55. s.Br].-   Average pit wall thickness: ¼″ [6.4 mm.].-   Average width: 1″ [25.4 mm.].-   Average length: 1 7/16″ [36.5 mm.].-   Average breadth: ¾″ [19.1 mm.].-   Tendency to split: Very slight.-   Kernel:    -   -   Form.—Oval.        -   Skin color.—Pale yellow [89. p.Y] when first removed.        -   Pellicle color.—Dark grayish yellow [91. d.gy.Y].        -   Vein color.—Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr].        -   Taste.—Bitter.        -   Viable.—Yes.        -   Average width.—½″ [12.7 mm.].        -   Average length.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].        -   Amygdalin.—Moderate.

USE

-   Market: Fresh market and long distance shipping.-   Keeping quality: Good, fruit quality observed to remain in good    condition after 17 days in standard cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2°    Celsius].-   Shipping quality: Good.-   Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.-   Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

OTHER NOTES

Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree, substantially asillustrated and described, that is most similar to its pollen parent‘Snow Princess’ peach (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,570) by producing peachesthat are white in flesh color, mostly red in skin color, firm intexture, large in size, freestone in type, and sub-acidic in taste, butis distinguished therefrom by blooming about five days later and byproducing fruit that matures about two weeks earlier.